Cuban wet forests

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Forests in Turquino National Park, Sierra Maestra, Cuba

The Cuban Wet Forests are an ecoregion of tropical rainforests that cover an area of ​​21,400 km 2 in Cuba and Isla de la Juventud . The ecoregion has no dry season . The soils were mainly formed from quartz , limestone or serpentinite rock. Cuban wet forests can be divided into low-level forests at altitudes of up to 400 meters, "foothills" at altitudes of 400 to 800 meters and mountain forests at altitudes of 800 to 1900 meters.

flora

Lowland forests

Lowland forests are found at altitudes from sea level up to 400 meters and reach heights of up to 40 meters. They consist of three floors. The upper floor contains, for example, Alchornea latifolia , Carapa guianensis and Manilkara valenzuelana . The middle floor contains, for example, Diospyros caribaea , Ocotea floribunda , Oxandra laurifolia , Talauma minor , myrobalans and figs ( Ficus subsp.). For example, the lower floor contains some species of tree ferns , myrtle plants, and black- mouthed plants . Epiphytes are abundant and varied, including the Hymenodium crinitum , Oleandra articulata , Columnea tincta and Psychotria pendula, which are unique to Cuba . Typical palm species there are Calyptronoma plumeriana , Prestoea acuminata var. Montana and Bactris cubensis . Species of Heliconia , deciduous moss and liverwort are also noteworthy.

Submontane forests

Submontane forests occur at altitudes of 400 to 800 meters. Typical submontane forests consist of two stories and undergrowth ; they reach a height of up to 30 meters. For example, Alchornea latifolia , Buchenavia capitata , Guatteria blainii , Licaria jamaicensis , Tabebuia hypoleuca and Zanthoxylum elephantiasis grow on the upper floor. Amyris lineata , Prunus myrtifolia , Ditta myricoides , the Laplacea species, Oxandra laurifolia , Ocotea species, Rapanea ferruginea and Podocarpus spec. can be found on the lower floor. Types of tree ferns , myrtle plants , black- mouthed plants and reddish plants grow in the undergrowth.

Submontane forests growing on Ultisols reach a height of 20 meters and have two floors with trees such as Calophyllum utile , Guatteria cubensis , Magnolia cristalensis , Tabebuia dubia , Zanthoxylum cubense and Bactris cubensis .

Cloud forest of the Pico Turquino

Cloud forests

Cloud forests are located on elevations from 800 to 1900 meters. These forests consist of two levels of trees and reach a height of 30 meters. The upper floor is dominated by Cyrilla racemiflora , Magnolia cubensis , Persea anomala and Laplacea angustifolia . The lower floor consists of Cleyera nimanimae, Freziera grisebachii , willow-leaved sunflower , the species Lyonia , as well as Torralbasia cuneata and Juniperus saxicola . Epiphytes , mosses , ferns , terrestrial orchids , and moss plants are abundant.

fauna

Among the birds of moist forests include the Cuban Tody ( Todus multicolor ), the bee hummingbird ( Mellisuga helenae ), the Cuban trogon ( Priotelus temnurus ), the Kubaklarino ( Myadestes Elisabeth ), the Langschnabelweih ( Chondrohierax uncinatus ), the Red-Legged Honeycreeper ( Cyanerpes cyaneus ), the Cuba parakeet ( Aratinga euops ), the styx owl ( Asio stygius ) and the Accipiter gundlachi . The rare Cuban sand weevil ( Solenodon cubanus ), a small mammal , is native to the eastern mountain forests. Other important mammals include the tree rats , the "medium-sized, gray rodents ".

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e worldwildlife.org
  2. ↑ http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/nt/nt0120.html ( Memento of March 8, 2010 in the Internet Archive )
  3. ↑ http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/nt/nt0120.html ( Memento of March 8, 2010 in the Internet Archive )

Web links